Salutensin Side Effects

Note: This page contains side effects data for the generic drug hydroflumethiazide / reserpine. It is possible that some of the dosage forms included below may not apply to the brand name Salutensin.

Applies to hydroflumethiazide / reserpine: oral tablet

Metabolic

Hyperuricemia may be an important consideration in patients with a history of gout. Hypophosphatemia and low serum magnesium concentrations may occur, but are usually clinically insignificant except in malnourished patients.

Metabolic changes associated with hydroflumethiazide (HFT), as with other thiazide diuretics, are relatively common, especially when daily doses greater than 100 mg are used. The electrolyte and intravascular fluid shifts that may occur during HFT diuresis can provoke hepatic encephalopathy in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Mild hypokalemia (decrease of 0.5 mEq/L) occurs in up to 50%, and may predispose patients to cardiac arrhythmias. Metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperuricemia are also relatively common.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects associated with reserpine include hypotension in 8% and bradycardia (and rare cases of syncope with bradycardia) in 3% of patients. Orthostatic hypotension may be more likely with the addition of HFT due to intravascular volume depletion. Rare cases of cerebrovascular accident associated with thiazide-induced diuresis have been reported.[Ref]

A woman with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia developed sinus pauses during reserpine therapy, which were reproducible by carotid massage except when isoproterenol was given. Reserpine is known to increase vagal tone and to deplete cardiac catecholamines.

One patient, in a series of 231, with emergent hypertension, stroke, and thyrotoxic crisis developed profound hypotension after receiving 1 mg of reserpine IM. Her blood pressure dropped from 180/100 to an unmeasurable level. The patient recovered after isoproterenol therapy.[Ref]

Psychiatric

The depressive syndrome usually consists of melancholy, loss of self confidence, early morning awakening, loss of libido, and reduced appetite.

A case of reserpine withdrawal psychosis has been reported. This uncommon condition may be due to dopamine receptor supersensitivity, which develops during reserpine therapy.[Ref]

Psychiatric problems related to reserpine therapy can be serious. Depression occurs in 2% to 28% of patients, is more likely when daily doses exceed 0.5 mg, and can present at any time during therapy. Suicidal ideation has been reported. Reserpine-induced depression is quickly reversible if therapy is withdrawn as soon as the syndrome is recognized, but can persist for several months after drug discontinuation if the syndrome fully develops. Reserpine withdrawal psychosis has been reported.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

A retrospective case-controlled drug surveillance study has revealed the relative risk of acute cholecystitis associated with the use of a thiazide diuretic is 2.0. The suspected explanation for this association is the potentially deleterious effect thiazides have on the serum lipid profile. Chlorothiazide-induced hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia may enhance the formation of some types of gallstones.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal side effects due to unopposed parasympathetic activity produced by catecholamine depletion may lead to increased gastrointestinal motility and secretory activity. Because of this, new diarrhea or worsening of existing diarrhea or increased salivation are reported in 2% to 5% of patients. Other GI problems that occur in approximately 5% of patients include anorexia, gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or abdominal pain in approximately 5% of patients. Thiazide diuretics have been associated with acute cholecystitis, intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice and rare cases of pancreatitis.[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory system side effects may be due to reserpine. Nasal congestion is reported in 8% of patients. Rare cases of bronchospasm have been associated with reserpine.[Ref]

Rare reports of reserpine-induced bronchospasm are believed to be due to inactivation of beta-adrenergic receptors, which can result in a marked potentiation of the bronchoconstrictive effect of histamine.[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects that are commonly associated with reserpine include sedation, lethargy (different from the psychiatric syndrome of depression), drowsiness, weakness, vertigo, insomnia, or headache in approximately 1% to 5% of patients. Mild or transient dizziness, fatigue, and headache have been associated with HFT. While reserpine is used to treat tardive dyskinesia, extrapyramidal movements may worsen upon withdrawal of therapy. A case of CNS hypertension, believed to be due to cerebral edema, has been associated with reserpine.[Ref]

Increased parkinsonian movements upon reserpine withdrawal (as with neuroleptics) may be due to supersensitivity to dopamine as a result of increased dopamine receptors that developed during reserpine therapy.[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrinologic changes associated with HFT, as with other thiazides, include decreased glucose tolerance and a potentially deleterious effect on the lipid profile. This may be important in some patients with or who are at risk for diabetes or coronary artery disease. Reserpine-induced hyperprolactinemia can result in gynecomastia in men and breast engorgement or pseudolactation in women.[Ref]

A prospective study of 34 patients who received oral thiazide diuretics for 14 years without interruption revealed an increased mean fasting blood glucose level after treatment. Withdrawal of thiazide therapy for 7 months in 10 of the patients resulted in mean reductions of 10% in fasting blood glucose and 25% in the 2-hour glucose tolerance test values. A control group was not reported.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions to thiazides usually involve the skin (cutaneous vasculitis, urticaria, rash, purpura), but may involve the gastrointestinal system (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea), the genitourinary system (interstitial nephritis), and the respiratory system (acute noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonitis). Thiazide diuretics may induce phototoxic dermatitis.[Ref]

Renal

Renal side effects including new or worsened renal insufficiency is a probable sign of intravascular volume depletion, and serves as a signal to reduce or withhold therapy. Rare cases of allergic interstitial nephritis have been associated with some thiazide diuretics.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary complaints are limited to impotence, reported in approximately 5% of male patients.[Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects are rare. Rare cases of immune-complex hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, and thrombocytopenia have been associated with thiazide diuretics.[Ref]

A 40-year-old woman with valvular heart disease developed listlessness, fatigue, easy bruising, increased pallor and exercise intolerance over 4 years after starting HFT 100 mg twice a week. She was taking no other medications. Physical and laboratory examination revealed petechiae, ecchymoses, optic hemorrhages, fever, signs of congestive heart failure, and gross pancytopenia. Sternal marrow aspiration revealed hypoplasia, except for a slight increase in lymphocytes and plasma cells. Iron stores were abundant. The patient fully recovered over a 10-week period after steroids, transfusions, phytohemagglutinin, fluoxymesterone (to suppress menstruation and to induce erythropoiesis), and discontinuation of HFT.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal cramping or spasms are occasionally reported during HFT-induced diuresis.[Ref]

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects are rare. A single case of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy has been associated with reserpine. In one study of 231 patients, only one case of a lupus-like syndrome was observed. The patient had previously received hydralazine.[Ref]

Oncologic

Oncologic concerns were raised after a large drug surveillance center in Boston reported an association between reserpine, a stimulator of prolactin, and breast cancer in 1974. This association was partially, but not completely, confirmed in two similar centers in Europe. A critical review of these studies elucidated several design flaws. Subsequent, controlled studies failed to show an association between reserpine and an increased incidence of breast carcinoma.[Ref]

More about Salutensin (hydroflumethiazide / reserpine)

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